About

The Neenah Joint School District is proudly positioned in the heart of the Fox Valley. Serving over 6,700 students, Neenah continues to be a frontrunner in many areas including academics, athletics and the arts. The District is committed to a focus on educational excellence for its students, professional staff and entire community.

The District features the most modern high school in the state of Wisconsin, having opened for the 2023-24 school year. The school was made possible by a $114.9 million referendum for facilities and security improvements across the District that passed in 2020. The referendum also made possible a middle school for grades 7-8 and an intermediate school for grades 5-6 at the former high school building that opened in 1972. Elementary schools host grades K-4. The District also features a charter school that serves grades 4K-6 and an early learning center for 4K students.

Our District remains, above all, committed to learning, growing and finding better ways to provide the finest foundational life experience for our District’s children. Neenah is a very special place to be!

Academic Accomplishments/Awards

* Every school met or exceeded expectations on the 2024-25 state report cards with four schools significantly exceeding expectations and four others exceeding expectations.
* Lakeview Elementary School ranked 21st overall, while Clayton Elementary School and Tullar Elementary School both ranked among the top 150 schools in the state among 2,223 schools that earned scores on the 2024-25 Wisconsin state report cards.
* The 2020 graduating class posted a 20.9 composite ACT score, ranking among the highest in the Fox Valley and higher than the state average of 20.1.
* A total of 369 Neenah students took 540 Advanced Placement exams during 2020 with 80.8 percent attaining credit-worthy scores of 3, 4 or 5. Of these, 80 students were honored for exceptional achievement.
* Received the 2019 Donna Clementi Award for Excellence in World Language programs, awarded to one District statewide.
 

High School Academic Programs

* Diversified curriculum to meet needs of students of all abilities. Course selections include standard and advanced classes.
* Numerous courses available for college credit through local or neighboring colleges and universities.
* Offers 24 Advanced Placement courses, providing students the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses to earn college credit.
* Optional academies offered that provide comprehensive education toward a specific career field in Business and Information Technology, Health Careers, Hospitality
and Culinary Arts, Manufacturing and Engineering and Visual Arts.
* Offers a unique project-based learning curriculum called “Fusion Academy” for about 100 freshmen and sophomores.
• Offers an entrepreneurial IncubatorEDU and AcceleratorEDU class where students create and pitch a project to potential investors.
* Partnership with Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) allows high school students to earn an automotive technical diploma from FVTC following graduation
* Freshman Seminar and Academic Advisement and Career Planning assist with college and career planning and academic success.

Elementary Academic Programs

* Gifted and talented programs available to students at all levels, including a “Magnet” program for students in grades 4-7.
* Suzuki music program offered to students in grades 2-5 to learn beginning orchestra.
* Alliance Charter School provides a Montessori learning method for students in grades K-5.
* Four-year-old kindergarten and early childhood programs available District-wide.
* Average class sizes of 21.4 students rank among the lowest in the Fox Valley for grades 4K-5.

Technology

* Every student in grades K-12 is assigned a 1:1 Chromebook or iPad to use throughout the year
* Students in 4K classes have access to iPads in the classroom
* Every classroom in grades 6-12 has a JUNO audio enhancement system that connects virtual or at home learners with the classroom
* Every classroom in grades PK-5 has a SMART interactive instructional panel
* Virtual Reality Goggles are available in every academic building to support teaching and learning
* Instructional Technology Coaches work with all academic levels providing instructional support to staff, students and families

Extra-Curricular Offerings

* High school offers 22 WIAA sponsored varsity sports and over 50 clubs and activities
* Middle school offers nine school-sponsored sports and over 30 clubs and activities
* Award-winning music and drama programs put on numerous performances in school and the community
* Athletic teams have won 35 WIAA state team championships in 14 different sports, which is the most titles of any Fox Valley Association (FVA) school. The Rockets also own the most FVA championships of any school.
* One of the state’s premier indoor facilities, the high school’s Einerson Fieldhouse seats 3,200 and features a six-lane indoor track with four full basketball/volleyball courts.
* High school’s eight-lane pool annually hosts WIAA sectional swimming and diving meets, while also serving community open swim and lessons.
* Pickard Auditorium seats 1,400 for concerts and drama productions.

Additional Programs

* Unique elementary HOPE program provides parent peer advocacy and on-site mental health therapy for all students.
* Freshman Seminar and LAUNCH program assists with transition to high school and requires community service projects.
* BLAST program assists students with transition to middle school.
* Character education programs offered at all elementary schools.
* At-Risk support provided at all levels, including Velocity program at middle school and STRIVE program at high school.
* Summer school program offers both enrichment and remediation courses.
* Hot lunch program offered at all schools.

Financial Highlights

* Has one of the lowest mill (tax) rates in the Fox Valley area at $7.84 per $1,000 of property value in 2020. This includes the amount from the 2020 referendum.
* One of the only Wisconsin school districts with a fully-funded post-retirement benefit for all staff.
* Has offered at least 2 percent salary increases to all staff every year for the past decade.
* Has held a steady enrollment of about 500 students per class for nearly 30 years.
* Prior to passing its 2020 referendum, the District had zero long-term debt.